Lining structure for subterranean passages



A ril 15, 1969 w. ZYWIETZ ETAL 3,438,211

LINING STRUCTURE FOR SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES Filed April 5, 1967 sheet of 2 m W5 M BYW M ATTORNEY$ A ril 15, 1969 w. ZYWIETZ T LINING STRUCTURE FOR SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES Filed April 5, 1967 Sheet a of 2 But INVENTOR5 I "n '1' y BY mick-wk 4- u2'b ATTORNEYQ United States Patent H 59 0 Int. Cl. E21d 11/14; E 04c 1/34; E04d 1/36 US. CI. 61-45 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Lining structure for water-tightly lining subterranean passages mainly comprising a plurality of substantially identical steel segments of channel-shaped cross section having each a pair of longitudinally extending flanges of dilferent cross sections respectively shaped so that one of said flanges may be hooked into the other flange of a segment adjacent thereto; said segments being arranged in arcuate sections or rings following each other in lo-ngitudinal direction of the passage with end edges of the segments in each section abutting against each other and with one flange of each segment in one section sealingly hooked into the other flange of the segment in the section adjacent thereto, and means in the interior of the tubular structure and overlapping the end edges of the segments and sealingly connecting the segments at the abutting end edges to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a lining structure, especially to a tubular structure, for water-tightly lining subterranean passages, such as tunnels, mine galleries, mine shafts and the like. It is known to use for watertightly lining subterranean passages of the aforementioned kind, cast iron or steel tubing, and lately also tubing formed from concrete or reinforced concrete. Such lining structure formed from tubing is relatively heavy and expensive and therefore in many cases not acceptable from a commercial standpoint. This is especially the case for water-tight lining structures which are used for lining of subterranean passages which extend not through solid rock, but through loose soil encountered for instance during building of tunnels and shafts for subways or the like. Especially for the last-mentioned purpose it .is already known to construct a lining structure from lighter and therefore cheaper steel profiles, especially in the form of U-iron. The lining arches or rings formed from structural channels are axially aligned in abutting relationship and fixedly connected to each other while the abutting edge portions of adjacent rings are carefully sealed. Even though water-tight lining structures from structural steel channels of the aforementioned kind are relatively inexpensive, easy to construct and of considerably smaller weight than known linings formed from tubes of suflicient strength to take up the stresses imparted thereto without breaking, it has been extremely diflicult to properly seal the joints between abutting elements of the lining structure at low cost. The reason for this is mainly that the profiled steel segments can be manufactured by rolling or bending only with certain tolerances which will make it diflicult to seal the joint between the facing flanges of the segments by sandwiching between the flanges before joining the same by screws or the like known sealing means used for this purpose, for instance 3,438,21 I Patented Apr. 15, 1969 lead foils. While it is possible to calk adjacent edges in a known manner with lead or similar plastic sealing material carefully by hand, such a method must be excluded in the present case in view of the excessive cost of such a method. In order to assure a proper sealing of adjacent elements of the lining structure with relatively simple means during its construction, it has also been suggested in order to obtain the necessary dimensional exactness of the elements to machine the outer flange surfaces thereof. The increase of cost resulting from this machining operation and the relatively complicated connection between axial aligned arches or rings thus formed by screws or the like make the aforementioned lining structures despite various advantages thereof not commercially acceptable as compared with the less expensive concrete linings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a.lining structure composed of a plurality of elongated steel segments which avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages of such lining structures known in the art.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a lining structure of the aforementioned kind in which the various elements of the structure are constructed and arranged so that they can be easily assembled with each other while providing water-tight joints without the necessity of machining the elements before assembly along edge portions thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With these and other objects in view, the lining structure according to the present invention especially a tubular structure for water-tight lining subterranean passages, such as tunnels, mine galleries, mine shafts and the like mainly comprises a plurality of elongated substantially identical steel segments of channel-shaped cross section having each a pair of longitudinally extending flanges of different cross sections respectively shaped so that one flange of one segment may be hooked into the other flange of a segment adjacent thereto, in which the segments are arranged in arcuate sections following each other in longitudinal direction of the structure with end edges of the segments in each section abutting against each other and with one flange of each segment in one section sealingly hooked into the other flange of the segment in the section adjacent thereto, and means in the interior of the tubular structure overlapping the end edges and sealingly connecting the segments at the abutting end edges to each other.

The means for sealingly connecting the segments at abutting end edges to each other may comprise a plurality of butt straps having overlapping flanges hooked into each other and the butt straps being fixedly connected to the segments.

Each of the segments of channel-shaped cross section has preferably a pair of spaced webs inclined to each other at an opening angle of at least 15 and the spaced webs of each segment are connected by a transverse web.

The use of segments of a cross section which has already been proven advantageous from a static point of view in mine supports, but which differ from the known mine support segments by their interlockable flange portions results in a lining structure which in relation to its Weight per length unit is extremely strong. In addition, the interhooked flange portions of the segments permit to obtain a perfect seal between adjacent elements of the lining structure with relatively simple sealing means and it is further possible to use for connecting the axially abutting thus formed rings or arches of the lining structure in a tension and pressure resistant manner the butt straps used for bridging the abutting edges of the segment which have for this purpose overlapping flanges hooked into each other. In this way the assembly of the various elements of the lining structure is greatly simplified while a perfect water-tight and pressure resistant structure can be obtained even if the various elements thereof are manufactured with relatively large dimensional tolerances.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the butt straps have each a cross section substantially identical to the cross section of the segments and the butt straps abut in reverse position and transversely displaced through half the width of each segment against the abutting end portions of the latter so that the transverse web of each butt strap overlaps the interhooked flanges of a pair of adjacent segments and so that the interhooked flanges of a pair of adjacent butt straps overlap the transverse web of a segment. The use of butt straps having the same cross section as the segments has the essential advantage that the butt straps as well as the segments may be manufactured with the same rolls, respectively bending presses, so that the manufacturing costs of the lining structure is further reduced. This is especially advantageous when the segments are in the form of rolled profiles, since in this case it is possible to use end portions of the rolled profile which have a length shorter than that of the segments for the manufacturing of butt straps, whereby the scrap usually resulting in cutting long rolled profiles to segment length can be reduced. On the other hand, the above-mentioned arrangement of the butt straps relative to the segments has the advantage that the interhooked flanges of the segments will be transversely displaced relative to the interhooked flanges of the butt straps.

Preferably one of the flanges of each segment and each butt strap is hook-shaped offset to form a groove and the other of the flanges has a bent edge portion so as to form a ledge adapted to fit into the groove of the element adjacent thereto. In order to make it possible to arrange the butt straps and the segments relative to each other in the manner as outlined above the transverse web of each segment and each butt strap is formed with a longitudinal extending corrugation shaped to receive the hook-shaped offset portion of a respective flange.

While it is possible to arrange the segments with the open sides of the channel-shaped cross sections thereof facing toward the interior of the tubular structure formed by the segments, it is preferred to arrange the segments in a manner known per se and used in mine supports so that the open sides of the channel-shaped cross section thereof as well as the open side of the grooves formed in one of the flanges of each segment face outwardly toward the rock or ground surrounding the lining structure and so that the corrugation of each segment is offset toward the center of the structure.

The connection between segments following each other in axial direction of the structure can, if necessary, be made stronger and a the same time more watertight by pressing the side wall portions defining the groove in the one flange of each segment toward each other so as to clamp the ledge on the flange of the adjacent segment located in the groove between the side wall portions of the latter. In segments which are rolled with a heavy wall thickness at similar improvement is obtainable by giving the groove in the one flange and the corrugation in the transverse web of each segment a wedge-shaped configuration.

To provide for a proper seal, the groove formed by the hook-shaped offset longitudinal portion on the one flange is preferably filled with a hardenable sealing compound, for instance sealing compounds with a butumen base, or other known sealing compounds of plastic material. In other cases it may be preferable to line the groove with a rubber layer, a resilient plastic material or the like or to clad the ledge on the other flange located in the groove with a layer of similar material. The segments and the butt straps which overlap abutting end portions of the segments and which form the connecting means between axially aligned segments are connected to each other by screws or rivets or preferably by bolts shot in situ through the overlapping elements, whereby preferably sealing means in form of adhesive compounds are sandwiched between engaging faces of segments and butt straps.

In a preferred arrangement, the abutting end edges of segments following each other in circumferential direction are displaced in this direction with respect to the abutting end edges of the segments in the axially adjacent ring sections for a distance substantially equal to half the length of the segments. In this arrangement successive portions of the axially extending butt straps will alternately overlap abutting edge portions in spaced sections or rings of segments and uninterrupted portions in the rings of segments therebetween. The last-mentioned portions of the butt straps serve in this case only as stiffeners. Additional stiffening means may also be connected to the butt straps and these stiffening means may comprise sheet metal members of a contour corresponding to the profile of the butt straps and welded transversely arranged to the latter to the inner sides thereof. In this way it is possible to strengthen the lining structure to withstand greater longitudinal forces imparted thereto, especially occurring when boring machines for advancing the tunnel or shaft are supported on the lining structure already put in place.

It is also possible to additionally reinforce the lining structure in places in which it is subjected to higher outside pressure by additional reinforcing rings. If the wall thickness of these reinforcing rings is held substantially equal to the thickness of the butt straps, it is possible to maintain the inner diameter of the lining structure substantially equal throughout, which is especially desirable if a concrete lining is subsequently applied, for instance by spraying, to the inner surface of the lining structure. This makes it unnecessary to use in zones in which the lining structure is subjected to higher pressures segments of greater wall thickness which in turn facilitates store keeping and installation of the segments.

It is also advantageous to fill, during installation of the lining structure, the space about the same with tamped or pressure injected material such as for instance cement grout or concrete to positively support in this way the lining structure against the surrounding earth or rock. Since the grooves in the flange portion of the segments face outwardly and are before interlocking of the segments filled with sealing material, the latter will not be displaced during subsequent filling of the space around the lining structure with tamping material so that a proper sealing of the lining structure will be maintained.

If the lining structure is to be installed in wet ground it is advantageous to protect the segments against corrosion and in this case the segments may be formed from special corrosion-resistant steel or be protected by a coat of paint, respectively by a coating having a bitumen or plastics base.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a tubular lining structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the lining structure seen from the interior thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 4 is a detail view of FIG. 3 drawn to a further enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As can be seen from FIG. 1, the tubular lining structure according to the present invention may comprise a plurality of abutting rings 1 coaxial with the axis of the passage lined by the lining structure, and each of the rings comprises a plurality of segments 1a arranged in circumferential direction of the ring and abutting with end edges 6 against each other and connected to each other in a manner as will be described later on in detail.

FIG. 1 shows also a floor 2 in form of a concrete wall fixedly mounted in the interior of the lining structure and extending parallel to the axis thereof transversely through the lower part of its circular cross section.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the configuration and connection of the segments 1a in further detail. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 the identical segments 1a are in the form of channel-shaped flanged profiles arranged with the open sides thereof facing towards the ground 3 surrounding the lining structure. Each of the channel-shaped segments 1a has a pair of spaced webs 1a inclined to each other and connected to each other by a transverse web 1d. The opening angle between the inclined webs 1a is at least 15, but preferably considerably greater, as for instance shown in FIG. 3 in which this opening angle is about 70. The flanges 1b and 1c of each segment are of different configuration, and the flange 1b of each segment is hook-shaped offset toward the transverse web 1d to form a groove open toward the surrounding ground whereas the other flange 10 has an inwardly bent edge portion so as to form a ledge fitting into the groove formed in the flange 1b of the adjacent segment. The transverse web 1d of each segment is formed substantially midway with a corrugation 1e offset toward the flanges of the segment for a purpose as will be described later on. Due to the ditferenflconfiguration of the profile flanges 1d and 10 it is possible to hook the identical segments 1a following in axial direction of the lining structure of the arches or rings 1 along the entire circumference of the rings to each other. In order to properly seal the joints formed by the interhooked flange portion 1b, 10 against penetration of water into the interior of the tubular structure, the outwardly facing groove in the flange portion 1b is preferably filled with a mass of plastic sealing material 4 (FIG. 4) for instance bitumen, in which the ledge 10 of the flange portion of the axially adjacent segment is pressed during assembly of the structure. On the other hand, the flange portion 10 may be covered with a layer of resilient sealing material of a thickness such that when this flange portion is hooked into the groove of the flange portion 1b the groove is completely filled. The space between the outer surface of the lining structure and the surrounding ground is during installation of the lining structure filled with a tamped or pressure injected mass 5 for instance cement grout, concrete or the like so that the segments after installation are fixed in position and so that the sealingmaterial 4 cannot be displaced by a relative movement of the flange portions 1c and let to each other.

Segments following in circumferential direction to each other are connected to each other at their abutting joints 6 by butt straps 7 extending in longitudinal direction of the lining structure. The butt straps 7 are constituted by identical profiles having the same cross section as the segments 1a. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the butt straps 7 abut in reverse position and displaced in axial direction of the structure through a distance equal to half of the width of each segment against the abutting end portions of the latter so that the transverse web 7d of each butt strap overlaps the interhooked flanges 1d and 1c of a pair of adjacent segments 1a and so that the interhooked flanges 7d and 7c of a pair of adjacent butt straps overlap the transverse web 1d of one segment. Each of the butt straps is likewise formed midway of its transverse web with a corrugation 7e inwardly offset and the groove of the corrugation has a configuration so that the hook-shaped flange portion 1b of the correspondent segment will fit into the groove of the corrugation 7e, while the corrugation 1e of each segment is formed to receive the corresponding flange portion 7d of the respec tive butt strap as clearly shown in FIG. 3.

The abutting joints 6 between the segments 1a following each other in circumferential direction are displaced in circumferential direction with respect to the abutting joints of the segments which are in axial direction of the structure adjacent to the first-mentioned segments through a distance substantially equal to half the length of the segments so that the endwise interhooked butt straps 7 only with half of their total length overlap the butt joints 6, whereas the other half of their total length extends over uninterrupted segments and serves only to reinforce the same.

The butt straps 7 may be connected to the segments 1a by nailing by means of bolts 8 which are in situ shot through but-t straps and segments. Of course, the connection may also be made with screws or rivets. In order to assure proper fluid-tightness of the structure at the joints, sealing strips of rubber or plastic material may be sandwiched between the end edges of the segments and/ or the abutting surfaces of segments and butt straps may be coated before nailing respectively before screwing or riveting the same to each other with an adhesive sealing material.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, sheet metal members or plates 9 having an edge corresponding to the contour of the channels of the butt straps may be welded at the end edges thereof to the butt straps so as to extend transversely through the channels and thereby forming stiffening members. In FIG. 2 only one of these transverse stiffening plates 9 is shown. In a similar manner it is also possible to reinforce the segments 1a by stiffening members or stiffening profiles welded thereto, or rings of profile iron may be inserted thereinto in order to reinforce additionally the lining structure at such zones which are subjected to higher pressures without the necessity to provide in this zone different profiles or profiles with greater wall thickness.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of lining structures differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a lining structure composed of identical interhooked segments and means connecting the segments to each other, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A lining structure, especially a tubular structure for water-tightly lining subterranean passages such as tunnels, mine galleries, mine shafts and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of substantially identical steel segments of channel-shaped cross section and having along longitudinal edges thereof hook means for sealingl-y engaging the longitudinal edges of one segment with the longitdinal edges of segments adjacent thereto, said segments being arranged in arcuate sections following each other in longitudinal direction of said structure "with end edges of said segments in each section abutting against each other and with the hook means of one section sealingly hooked into the hook means of the section adjacent thereto; and connecting means extending in longitudinal direction of the structure in the interior thereof overlapping said end edges and sealingly connecting said segments at said abutting end edges to each other, said connecting means comprising a plurality of butt straps having overlapping hooked flanges hooked into each other, said butt straps being fixedly connected to said segments and said overlappipng flanges of said butt straps being displaced in longitudinal direction of the structure with respect to said hook means on said section.

2. A lining structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said segments of channel-shaped cross section has a pair of spaced webs inclined to each other at an opening angle of at least said spaced webs of each segment being integrally connected by a transverse web.

3. A lining structure as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said butt straps has a cross section substantially identical to said cross section of said segments, and wherein said butt straps abut in reverse position and displaced in axial direction of the structure through a distance substantially equal to half the Width of each segment against said abutting end portions of the latter so that the transverse web of each butt strap overlaps the interhooked hook means of a pair of adjacent segments and so that the interhooked flanges of a pair of adjacent butt straps overlap the transverse web of a segment.

4. A lining structure as defined in claim 1, and including sealing means sandwiched between said butt straps and the portions of the segments engaged by said butt straps, and fastening means extending through said butt straps and said segments.

5. A lining structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said sealing means comprise an adhesive compound.

6. A lining structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the abutting end edges of the segments following each other in circumferential direction are displaced in said circumferential direction with respect to the abutting end edges of the segments which are in axial direction of the structure adjacent thereto through a distance substantially equal to half the length of said segments.

7. A lining structure as defined in claim 1, and including stiffening means connected to said butt straps.

8. A lining structure as defined in claim 3, and including stiffening means connected to at least some of said butt straps, said stiflening means comprising sheet metal members of a contour corresponding to the profile of said butt strap and welded transversely arranged to the latter to the inner sides thereof.

9. A lining structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said hook means of each segment comprises a pair of flanges extending along the longitudinal edges of the segments, one of said flanges is hook-shaped offset along one of the edges to form a groove and the other of said flanges having a bent edge portion so as to form a ledge fitting into the groove of the one flange on the segment adjacent thereto.

10. A lining structure as defined in claim 9, wherein one of the flanges of each butt strap is hook-shaped offset along an edge portion thereof to form a groove and the other of said flanges having a bent edge portion so as to form a ledge fitting into the groove of the butt strap adjacent thereto.

11. A lining structure as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said segments is formed in said transverse web thereof with a corrugation receiving the interhooked flange portions of a pair of butt straps, and each of said butt straps is formed in the transverse web thereof with a corrugation receiving the interhooked flanges of adjacent segments.

12. A lining structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein said segments are constructed and arranged so that the open sides of the channel-shaped cross sections thereof, as Well as the open sides of the grooves formed by one flange of each segment face outwardly toward the ground surrounding the lining structure and so that the corrugation of each segment is offset toward the center of the structure.

13. A lining structure as defined in claim 10, wherein the ledge on the flange on one segment is clamped between flange portions forming the groove of the segment adjacent thereto.

14. A lining structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said groove in said one flange and said corrugation in the transverse web of each segment and in each butt strap has a wedge-shaped configuration.

15. A lining structure as defined in claim 10, wherein at least the groove formed in said one flange of each segment is filled with a hardenable sealing compound.

16. A lining structure as defined in claim 10, wherein said ledge on the other flange of each segment located in the groove on the flange of the segment adjacent thereto is covered with a layer of sealing material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,708 11/1921 Stowell 61-45 1,923,006 8/1933 Proctor 61-45 1,982,307 1l/1934 Kahn 61-45 3,097,494 7/1963 Chapron 61-45 JACOB SHAPIRO, Pril'nary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 52-394, 465, 468 

